Local alumni basketball games set
Published 4:23 pm Thursday, April 21, 2016
King’s Fork High School will host four alumni basketball games on Saturday featuring men and women from teams of Suffolk’s past.
King’s Fork High School girls’ basketball coach Maurice Fofana will join a slew of former Nansemond River High School players returning to the court on Saturday at King’s Fork to take on former Lakeland High School players. Fofana was the starting point guard on the Warriors team that won the state championship in 1995.
“It’s an event that we actually have talked about, as far as putting together, for a while,” Lady Bulldogs coach Maurice Fofana said. “This time, some young ladies actually came to me and wanted to do it, and that’s what kind of made me go with it.”
Former players for John F. Kennedy High School’s and Suffolk High School’s girls’ teams will reconvene to face off against each other.
There will also be a game between Lakeland High School and Nansemond River High School featuring some female players who played for the schools from 1991 to 2000.
Closing out the evening will be games featuring some men who played for Lakeland and Nansemond River from 1991 to 2000 and 2001 to 2004.
Representatives from Nansemond River’s state championship teams in 1992 and 1995 will be competing once again.
Among the overall group of former Warriors retaking the court will be Derrick Bryant, Keith Stagg, Leroy Skinner, George Porter, Antwan Willie and Fofana, as well.
“Yes, briefly,” Fofana said, followed by a chuckle.
He affirmed that he fully expects every member of his 2015-16 Group 4A state semifinalist Lady Bulldogs squad to be on hand, good-naturedly picking apart his every move on the court.
Among the former Cavaliers returning to the hardwood are Theotis Porter and Sebastian Yates.
Nansemond River and Lakeland players from the 2001 to 2004 time frame will play in the final game of the event. Warriors from that era that will play include Marquise Cooke, Latrone Demiel and Keith Artis.
The ladies who encouraged Fofana to hold the event — his wife, Rickeda Fofana, as well as Antonette Harris and Rebecca Skinner — all played for Lakeland and will be representing the Lady Cavaliers on the court again on Saturday.
Alumni from all of the schools and local basketball fans are encouraged to come out.
“You get a chance to watch some good basketball along with seeing some of your old friends and classmates,” Maurice Fofana said.
And he hopes this kind of reunion will be the first in a series.
“That’s what we’re pushing for, for it to be an ongoing event,” Fofana said.
The price of admission for spectators ages 11 and older is $3, and all proceeds will benefit the King’s Fork girls’ basketball program. Children 10 and younger are granted free admission.
Following is the schedule for the alumni event:
- 5 p.m. — Women: John F. Kennedy High School vs. Suffolk High School
- 6 p.m. — Women: Lakeland High School vs. Nansemond River High School (1991-2000)
- 7 p.m. — Men: Lakeland High School vs. Nansemond River High School (1991-2000)
- 8 p.m. — Men: Lakeland High School vs. Nansemond River High School (2001-2004)
